Christian Hedonism?

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Is delight a mere by-product of duty in the Christian life, or is it a Christian's duty to be as happy as he can? Christian hedonism says that maximum happiness is precisely what we are duty bound to pursue. Let me know your thoughts.

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Administrator

Administrator

Jesus gives us the formula for happiness in His introduction to the Sermon on the Mount. There is no restriction in God's Word to pursuing happiness provided that happiness is found in the will of God.

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Originally posted by USN2Pulpit: I don't think we should search after happiness...we should seek God, and in doing so, we experience the abundant life that was promised - regardless of present circumstances, we have joy.

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I've read the book... and heard him preach several times. I always leave thinking... HUH? I'm just a country boy, and I can tell that there's alot to what Piper says, but it's difficult to get my brain around sometimes. Doesn't keep me from trying to grow, though! I'll read it again in a year and see if it still puzzles me. Until then, (and forever) God is God, and I am not!!

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At the end of the day there is probably some truth to Christian Hedonism, but wow what a very unfortunate word to be used in association with biblical Christianity. Great preaching at Bethlehem Baptist church though.

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Well-Known Member

Is delight a mere by-product of duty in the Christian life, or is it a Christian's duty to be as happy as he can? Christian hedonism says that maximum happiness is precisely what we are duty bound to pursue. Let me know your thoughts.

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New Member

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Active Member

Imagine playing a baskerball game with a trophy as the prize. If you shoot at the trophy you will lose. If you shoot at the goal you can win the prize. In Christianity the goal is Christ and happiness is one of the prizes. If you shoot at the prize you will lose.

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New Member

"Christian Hedonism", is not something that is taught in Scripture. I see that the English dictionary, defines "Hedonism" as "a devotion, especially a self-indulgent one, to pleasure and happiness as a way of life". Surely this is "feelings", something that we cannot really trust to be our guide as a Christian! I do not see in Scripture, that our pursuit should be for "pleasure and happiness". Surely we should be as the apostle Paul was, "to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8). This indeed should be the one goal of all who say they are born-again Christians, to have a "one-track-mind" in following Jesus Christ at all costs. Our focus should be Christ, and NOT our self-satisfaction!

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